Short Stay 'C' — Visiting Family/Friends Verified 2026-06-09Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa (Short Stay 'C')
Short stay 'C' visit visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends resident in Ireland — up to 90 days. Apply online via AVATS, submit originals at VFS Global / the Embassy of Ireland.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Ireland visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Generally about 8 weeks
Stay Duration
Up to 90 days
Starting Fee
≈ ₹5,500
Apply At
8 VFS centres
Your whole Ireland Family Visit Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong Ireland file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹16,999 fee covers for a Ireland file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Ireland visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1Ireland is NOT a Schengen country and does not issue e-visas — a Schengen visa does NOT admit you to Ireland. Apply through AVATS only.
- 2Ireland does NOT issue family visas — every traveller must apply for a SEPARATE visa, and a parent/legal guardian applies on behalf of each child under 18.
- 3Two-step process: create the application ONLINE on AVATS, then PRINT, sign and date the Summary Application Form and submit it with your ORIGINAL documents (hardcopy only) and fee to the application office shown on the form.
- 4Submit your documents within 30 days of creating the AVATS application, or it may be cancelled.
- 5Originals only — do NOT submit documents on USB sticks, memory cards, CD-ROMs, or via Dropbox/Sharefile; only hardcopy documents are accepted.
- 6Any document not in English or Irish must have a full certified translation; non-EEA civil documents (birth/marriage/etc.) must be attested/apostilled by the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 7Letters from companies/colleges must be on official headed paper with full name, postal address, landline, website and an official email (Yahoo/Hotmail not accepted) and a written (not electronic) signature.
- 8You MUST disclose every previous visa refusal (any country) — hiding a refusal will get your Irish application refused.
- 9Apply about 3 months before travel; do not buy travel tickets before you receive the decision. Biometrics may be required.
- 10A visa only lets you TRAVEL to Ireland — an immigration officer at the border can still refuse entry. The landing stamp shows how long you may stay (up to 90 days for a 'C' visa).
- 11There is NO appeal for short-stay 'C' visa refusals — you must lodge a fresh application addressing the refusal reasons.
Who Can Apply
- Indian citizens visiting family members resident in Ireland
- Indian citizens visiting friends resident in Ireland
- Parents / relatives visiting an Indian student or worker living in Ireland
- Applicants with a host able to provide an invitation and accommodation
Not eligible under this visa:
- Anyone intending to work (paid or unpaid) in Ireland
- Stays over 90 days, settlement or long-term family reunification — a long stay 'D' visa / join-family route applies instead
- Pure tourism with no host — apply for the Tourist Visa instead
- Business meetings — apply for the Business Visa instead
- Anyone wishing to rely on Irish public services such as public hospitals
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Ireland / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Short stay 'C' visa — Single entry | ≈ ₹5,500 |
| Short stay 'C' visa — Multiple entry | ≈ ₹9,200 |
| VFS Global service charge | Varies |
The visa fee is set in euro by the Irish authorities (€60 single / €100 multiple for short stay 'C' visas) and is converted to INR at the consular/VFS exchange rate, so the rupee amount changes periodically — always confirm the live figure plus the VFS service charge on the VFS Global Ireland India page before paying. The visa fee covers the administrative cost of processing only; it is NON-REFUNDABLE if you withdraw your application or if the visa is refused. Some applicants are exempt from the visa fee — check the official exemptions list. Extra charges (for example consular fees and VFS optional services such as courier or SMS) may also apply and do not affect the decision.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What Ireland actually requires — and what it does not.
Ireland assesses purpose, funds and your reason to return — this paperwork exists to make those three answerable.
0 of 4 are compulsory for Ireland
Flight reservation
A return reservation covering your stated dates. A real held PNR is enough; paying for a ticket before a decision puts money at risk.
Where people slip: Dates that do not match the application form.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Accommodation for the stay, or a host's invitation carrying their address and status.
Where people slip: Nights with nothing shown against them.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Check the specific requirement for Ireland before buying — it varies, and being sold cover you do not need is common.
Where people slip: A policy that does not cover the full length of the stay.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A short plan tying the trip to a real reason and a return date.
Where people slip: A plan longer than your approved leave.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your Ireland file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Core Documents
5 items- Signed and dated AVATS Summary Application Form (Application Summary Sheets)Required
Generated by AVATS; print, sign and date it.
- Current passportRequired
Valid for the trip; include a full copy of all previous passports.
- Two colour passport photographsRequired
Not more than 6 months old.
- Application/cover letterRequired
Explaining who you are visiting, the relationship, the dates and who is paying.
- Proof of visa fee paymentRequired
Host / Invitation Documentation
4 items- Invitation letter from the host in IrelandRequired
From the family member or friend you are visiting, with their full address, contact details and the exact dates of your stay.
- Proof of the host's residence / status in IrelandRequired
Copy of the host's Irish Residence Permit (IRP) / immigration stamp / passport or proof of citizenship.
- Proof of relationship to the host
For family: birth/marriage certificates linking you to the host (with certified translation/attestation where needed); for friends, evidence of the connection.
- Accommodation planRequired
Staying with the host counts — supported by the invitation; otherwise hotel bookings.
Travel, Finance & Compliance
4 items- Medical or travel insuranceRequired
Covering the duration of your trip.
- Finance plan / proof of fundsRequired
Original bank statements; or, where the host sponsors you, the host's undertaking plus their income/bank proof.
- Evidence of obligations to return homeRequired
Job, business, property or family ties to India.
- Details of any previous visa refusals (any country)Required
Must be disclosed — non-disclosure causes refusal.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
5 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Get the host's invitation and status proof
Obtain the invitation letter (host's address, contact, exact stay dates) plus proof of the host's residence/status in Ireland (IRP, immigration stamp, passport or citizenship).
- 02
Create your AVATS application
Complete AVATS online selecting Visa type 'Short Stay (C)' and Reason for travel 'Visit Family/Friend'. Note your Visa Application Transaction Number.
- 03
Print and sign the Summary Application Form
Print, sign and date the generated Application Summary Sheets, which tell you where to submit.
- 04
Submit documents and pay the fee
Within 30 days, submit the printed form plus original documents and fee to the application office — for Indian applicants via VFS Global Ireland or the Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi. Give biometrics if requested.
- 05
Track and collect
Track via AVATS / VFS; decisions generally take about 8 weeks. If approved, the visa is placed in your passport and returned.
What works
7 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Complete AVATS carefully and honestly — false or misleading information can lead to refusal and a 5-year ban from Irish visas.
- Disclose ALL past visa refusals (any country); non-disclosure is itself a refusal ground.
- Submit your printed, signed Summary Application Form plus original documents within 30 days of creating the AVATS application.
- Carry an ORIGINAL bank statement covering the last 6 months plus ITR/Form 16 to evidence finances and ties to India.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Failure to disclose a previous visa refusal (any country) — an automatic refusal ground
- 2Insufficient or unexplained finances — bank balance does not credibly cover the trip
- 3Weak obligations to return home — no clear job, business, property or family ties to India
Download official forms
Each link opens the official Ireland page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
AVATS — Online Visa Application (Automated Visa Application and Tracking System)
Create and complete your Irish visa application online here. The system generates a Summary Application Form — print, sign and date it and submit it WITH your supporting documents. There is no separate downloadable paper application form, and Ireland does not issue e-visas.
VFS Global Ireland (India) — appointment & document submission
After completing AVATS, Indian applicants submit the printed summary form, original documents and fee here (or as directed on the summary form). Book any required biometrics appointment via VFS.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa (Short Stay 'C') is a 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
No. Ireland does NOT issue family visas — every traveller, including each child, must apply for a separate short stay 'C' visit visa through AVATS. A parent or legal guardian applies on behalf of any person under 18, with extra child-safety conditions.
Your host should provide an invitation letter with their full address, contact details and your exact stay dates, plus proof of their residence/status in Ireland (Irish Residence Permit / immigration stamp / passport or proof of citizenship). For family visits, include documents proving your relationship.
Yes — if your host sponsors the visit, include their written undertaking along with their income/bank proof. It is still wise to show your own bank statements and strong ties to India to strengthen the application.
No. The short stay 'C' visit visa is only for visits up to 90 days. Joining family long-term or settling requires a long stay 'D' join-family route decided by the Irish immigration authorities, which has its own eligibility categories and is not a short-stay visit visa.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your Ireland Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
5 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+My relative in Ireland is inviting and sponsoring me. What do they need to send?
An invitation naming you and the relationship, proof of their own status in Ireland (residence permit, passport or citizenship), proof of address, and — if they are paying — their income evidence and a formal undertaking. Several countries have a specific sponsorship form; using a plain letter where a prescribed form exists gets the file bounced. Send us their documents together with yours: the two sides have to agree with each other, and mismatched addresses or dates between sponsor and applicant are one of the quietest refusal causes.
+Does having close family settled abroad make my visa harder?
It is the question officers probe hardest on a family visit, because a visitor visa turns on whether you will come back. It is not a bar — thousands of these are approved every month — but it has to be answered rather than ignored. The answer is your own life here: your job or business, your dependants, your property, your bookings. A file that names the relative and then says nothing about your ties invites the officer to assume the obvious.
+How long does a Ireland Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. Ireland currently states Generally about 8 weeks from the date your documents are received by the application office (can be longer if documents are missing, need verification, or because of personal circumstances). Apply about 3 months before you travel; do not buy tickets before approval. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the Ireland visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The Ireland government fee (currently ≈ ₹5,500) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my Ireland Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (Ireland currently states Generally about 8 weeks from the date your documents are received by the application office (can be longer if documents are missing, need verification, or because of personal circumstances). Apply about 3 months before you travel; do not buy tickets before approval.). Government and visa-centre fees (≈ ₹5,500 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A Ireland Ireland Family / Friend Visit Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same Ireland rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other Ireland Visa Types
Ireland Tourist Visa (Short Stay 'C')
Short stay 'C' visa for Indian citizens travelling to Ireland for tourism, sightseeing and leisure — up to 90 days. Apply online via AVATS, then submit original documents at VFS Global / the Embassy of Ireland.
View guideIreland Business Visa (Short Stay 'C')
Short stay 'C' business visa for Indian professionals attending meetings, negotiations, conferences or short work (14 days or less) in Ireland — up to 90 days. Apply online via AVATS, submit originals at VFS Global / the Embassy.
View guideIreland Student Visa (Long Stay 'D')
Long stay 'D' visa for Indian students enrolled in an eligible Irish programme longer than 90 days. Apply online via AVATS, submit originals at VFS Global / the Embassy; register with immigration after arrival.
View guideIreland Work Visa / Permit (Long Stay 'D' — Information Only)
Information only — Irish work routes need an employment permit / approval first, then a long stay 'D' work visa. SureshotVisa guides you through this route and, once you hold your own job offer or employer sponsorship, prepares and files the visa application — we are not a recruiting agent, so the offer must be yours.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Ireland website and Embassy of Ireland. Last verified 2026-06-09. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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